Truss.



. Patented 1an. 22, 190|. w. la.l BUTLER. TBUSS.

(Applicatio'n led- Oct. 28, 1899.)

(No Model.)

llnirn drames ATnNr ilrrrcn.

WILLIAM RUFUS BUTLER, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOFRED H. GARBER, OF SAME PLACE.

`reuss.

SPECIFICATION forming' part 0f Letters Patent N 0. 666.375, datedJanuary 22, 1901.

Application led October 28. 1899. Serial No. 735,086. (No modeL) To.ri/,ZZ whom t tay concern:

Re it known that I, WILLIAM RUFUs BUT- LER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at and whose post-office address is No. 816 Northrtwenty-seventh street, Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State ofVirginia, have invented a new and useful Truss, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to trusses, and more particularly to devices inwhich the truss-pad may be reversed or adjusted to properly bear on thehernia to secure great comfort to the wearer.

It is customary in the art to provide a truss with a spring-band and toconnect a pad with the band. Such prior constructions usually have thespringbands made each from a length of metal, usually of steel, which istempered to impart elasticity permanently thereto and is bent to conformtea shape suitable to t the wearer; but the steel trussspring, whilepossessing the desirable feature of elasticity, is constructed so as tohave a certain shape or contour permanently given thereto, so that. theshape of the spring cannot be materially altered or changed to suit theperson and make the pad bear properly ou the hernia without dismantlingthe truss, drawin0` the temper of the spring, bending the metal to therequired shape, and again tempering the spring, which operations arewholly im practicable. It is therefore customary for a dealer to carryin stock a number of trusses of different sizes and shapes to meet thedemands of the trade; but aside from the expense to the dealer the trussis also objectionable, because when after its purchase the user orwearer cannot change the curvature ofthe spring nor regulate thepressure eX- erted thereby and the pad on the hernia.

The object that I seek to attain is the provision of a truss-springwhich while it retains its permanent elasticity or resiliency is capableof being readily bent by the dealer, physicau, or wearer in any requiredcondition to make the pad bear properly, whereby the truss-spring may bebent to conform to the body and hip of the person, so as to be worn withease and comfort, to present the pad properly, and exert the requisitepressure through the pad on the affiicted organ. It is desirable in thisart to employ as a spring a metal which will not corrode under theaction of moisture and perspiration.

In embodying my invention Ihave not been able to findin the market ametal orsuhstance which fulfils the requisites of pliability andpermanent elasticity, because ordinarypermanently-elastic metallicsprings are not pliable so as to be bent at will in any required shapeto attain the objects ofmy invention. I have therefore been required touse a metallic alloy known as German silver and to temper this metallicalloy by hammering the temper into the lengths of the alloy and thenrolling them smooth in order to give the quality of permanent elasticitythereto. As is well known, the alloy designated as German silver is notpermanently springy, elastic, or resilient,while, on the other hand, itpossesses the desirable quality of pliability. I therefore proceed tomake the truss-spring of the metallic alloy in the required dimensionsand then temper the spring to give the same the required elasticity andpreserve its pliability. The spring is now in a condition which enablesthe same to be bent by hand in any direction and to any requiredshape--that is to say,t.he spring-hand may be bent around itself to fitthe hip, and it may be bent edgewise to properly present the truss-padto the hernia. The spring-band may be bent laterally and edgewise ineither direct-ion to enable the truss to be used on the right or lefthand side of the person; but under all these conditions of bending saidband it does not lose the requisite elasticity or resiliency, it beingunderstood that the bending force applied to give the requisite shape issufficient to overcome the elasticity. These physical characteristics ofthe improved spring-band are especially desirable in a reversible trussemploying an adjustable and reversible pad, because the spring may bebent and the pad adjusted to enable the truss to be fitted in anyposition and on either side of the wearer.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a truss constructedin accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 isa side view illustrating thespring-band bent in a reverse direction to Fig. l and with the padadjusted toa different position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view IOO showing a variation in the shape of thespring-band. Fig. Lt isa cross-section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

The same numerals of reference indicate like and corresponding parts ineach of the several figures ot' the drawings.

The spring-band 5 of myimproved truss is made of the metallic alloy andtempered in the manner hereinbefore described. This band in the courseof its manufacture is a straight length of metal substantiallyrectanguiar in cross-section, although the shape thereof is notmaterial, and said band is then bent or doubled upon itself to therequisite shape. A rigid or stiff supporting-plate 6 is secured firmlyt-o one end of the spring-band by rivet-s or other suitable fastenings.Said supporting-plate is provided with a transverse opening 7 and withthe radial lockingribs 8, the latter being formed on one face of theplate in positions radial to the opening. A stiff pad-plate 9 is appliedin overlapping relation to the ribbed face of the supportingplate, andthis pad-plate has one or more radial ribs 10, adapted to interlock withthe ribs of the su pporting-plate- A threaded aperture 1l is formed inthe padplate, the latter being assembled for its aperture to coincide orregister with the hole 7 in the supporting-plate. Through the coincidentopenings of the two plates is passed the shank of a clamping-screw12,thelatter having threaded engagement with the pad-plate, while its heador shoulder bears against the supporting-plate in order to clamp the twoplates firmly together. A pad 13 of ordinary construction is fixed tothe pad-plate in any suit able way-such, for example, as by the screws14 passing through slots 15 in the plate 9, thus permitting the pad tobe adjusted lengthwise of the pad-plate. It is evident that thepad-plate and the pad may be adjusted to any required position withrelation to the endof the truss-spring, and, if desired, this pad may bereversed.

While the spring-band is made of non-corrosive metallic alloy, it may bedesirable at times to inclose the same in a sheath 16,

which may be of fabric, leather, or any other suitable material, thusenabling the spring J to be worn with ease and comfort.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have shown the free end of the spring-bandbent edgewise, so as to occupy a reverse position from that shown inFig. l. By reference to the plan View, Fig. 3, it is to be seen that thespring-band can be bent to acquire different coilfigurations. While thedierent modes of bending the spring-band shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3 maybe adopted, it is to be understood that said band maybe adjusted topartake of any other' conguration, and such bending of the band may beeasily effected by the owner or wearer. Under all these conditions of adjustment of the spring-band it does not lose its permanent elasticity orresiliency, and l am thus enabled to produce a cheap, du rable, andsatisfactory article which meets the re quirements for a reversibledevice of this character.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. A reversibletruss comprising a perinanently elastic resilient and pliable body bandor spring made in a single tempered piece of metallic alloy and bendableedgewise and laterally to change its shape to conform to right and leftportions of the human body without detracing from its elasticity ordrawing its temper, and a reversible pad adjustably connected to oneextremity of said bandol' spring.

2. As a new article of man ufacture, a truss band or spring forapplication to the human body in one continuous piece of tempered Germansilver capable of being bent longitudinally and transversely withoutdrawing the temper and retain its inherent resiliency in its dilerentshapes.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto alixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM RUFUS BUTLER.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. LAMB, R. E. GLOVER.

